To prepare for this essay, you need to choose a song that tells a story and analyze its lyrics as if they are a poem. Write at least 400 words and format it in MLA style. Organize the essay into multiple paragraphs.
For brainstorming tips, see this page from the website The Classroom entitled, “How Do I Write a Song Analysis Essay?”Links to an external site.
Consider this essay format:
I. Introduce the “Title of the Song.” Identify the general style of the music, along with the general topic, focus, or context of the song lyrics. Who wrote the song? Who typically performs the song? Has it been covered by multiple artists? Write at least three sentences in the introductory paragraph.
II. Organize the body of the essay into two or three paragraphs. Body paragraphs do not have a definitive length, but five to seven sentences is a reasonable length. Here are some suggestions:
1.
· If the song tells a story, then summarize the major plot elements and the characters. Be sure to identify the conflict of the song. Does the story have a clear or unclear ending? Explain.
· What do you know about the speaker (or persona or narrator) of them poem?
· Identify and explain any potentially confusing lines in the song lyrics. If you quote a line exactly, then enclose it in quotation marks.
· Does the song contain elements of poetry? If so, then writ(poetry term for narrator)e a paragraph that analyzes interesting rhymes, rhythms, images, or symbols.
· What is the historical or societal context of the song?
· Is the song controversial in any way? Explain and discuss this controversy.
III. Conclude with a short discussion of why the song relates to its listeners. What is the central message and how does it relate to the human condition*? Write at least three sentences in the concluding paragraph.
*The human condition refers to the key experiences, stages, characteristics, and limitations that guide human existence, such as birth, love, fear, and death.